Weeting cops cuff 17th phone-hacking suspect

Essex woman nabbed

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A 47-year-old woman was arrested at an address in Essex this morning by cops investigating allegations of phone hacking by people working for the now-defunct Sunday tabloid News of the World.

The unnamed woman is the 17th person to be cuffed by Scotland Yard cops working on Operation Weeting.

The suspect "was arrested at approximately 06.55 on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and she is currently in custody at an Essex police station", said the Met.

Suspects in the investigation have to date included former News International boss Rebekah Brooks and one-time editor of the NotW Andy Coulson.

No charges have yet been brought against any of the individuals arrested by Scotland Yard officers in connection with allegations of voicemail interception, computer hacking and police corruption.

Late last year, a 52-year-old female police officer was the first cop to be arrested in connection with allegations of receiving illegal payments from journalists as part of Operation Elveden, a police investigation into allegations of inappropriate payments to police which is linked to the Weeting probe. ®